Barrhead’s town council recently passed first reading of Animal Control Bylaw amendments that would permit urban hens, and scheduled a public hearing on the matter.
The town began surveying the community for interest in an urban hen program in 2023, but found that interest wasn’t sufficient to proceed. In August 2025, a member of the public submitted a proposal to the Municipal Planning Commission, asking the town to reconsider the possibility. The town also reports increased feedback on the topic, suggesting it’s a trending topic in the community.
The town reached out to the province’s Ministry of Agriculture for additional guidelines to consider within the bylaw, including:
- Premise Identification Number requirements
- Allowing additional poultry or just chickens
- Age requirements for permit holders
- Permissions from property owners if renters are present
- Notification to neighbors
- Training (Chickens 101)
- Biosecurity
- Maximum and minimum number of chickens, and age (over 16 weeks)
- Coop and Run requirements
- Site plan requirements and fencing
- Selling of products
- Disposal methods of chickens
Financial implications associated with the change include staff time to develop the bylaw, issue permits and conduct enforcement or inspections.
The amendments were presented to council earlier this month and passed first reading unanimously. A public hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday Feb. 24, to hear feedback on the matter.
